Seven Spiritual Practicesfor Busy People

Itcanbearealchallengetokeepourprioritiesstraightinthisbusy,conflictedworld.Whoofusdoesn’tstruggleagainsttheruthlesstyrannyoftheurgent!Mixinthemedia,consumerismandcultureandit’sdifficulttokeepthemainthingasthemainthing. Abusy,hard-pressedKingDavidinspiresmanypeopletoplacethegreatestpriorityrightupthereatthetopoftheirlist.Davidknewlife’spressuresasagreatmilitaryleader,statesman,poet,musician,andgenuineRenaissanceman!Davidwasfarfromperfect.Hehadsinnedmuchandbeengreatlyforgiven,butGodchalkedDavidupasasuccessinHisBook.TheBibletwicecallsDavid“a man after God’s own heart”(1Samuel13:14;Acts13:22). DavidsingsinPsalm27:4aboutmakingthegreatestprioritythenumberonethinginhislife:

“One thing I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.”

The“onething”Davidgavehimself towasdailypracticingGod’spresence.Whetherinthepalace,wilderness,oronthebattleground,DavidwasdeterminedtoliveinconstantGod-awareness.HewasresoluteinbeingpresenttotheGodwho is ever present to us. David discovered that by living in God’s constantpresencehewouldexperienceGod’sconstantlove,provisionandprotection:

“For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock” (Psalm27:5).

IaskedGodtohelpmemakethegreatestprioritythenumberonepriorityinmylife.Afterhavingchasedaftermanyotherthings,IlongedtomakeknowingGodthemainthing.IthensensedGodbringingpeopletomewhoalsolongedtoliveinthewondrousdailyawarenessofGod.Theyhavetaughtmemuchaboutthejoythatcomeswithlife’sgreatestpriority! OnedaywhenIwasayoungchild Ihadbuttonedmyshirt incorrectly,andwenttomymotherforhelp.HowcouldIgetmybuttonsright?Mymothertaught

metoalwaysstartwiththetopbutton,andtheneverythingelselinesupright. Whatfollowsinthispamphletare“topbutton”practicesthathelpeverythingelseinmylifelineupright.TheyhelpmeliveindailyawarenessofGod’spresenceandbeauty.SoIpassthesepracticesontoyoubelievingtheywillalsoopenforyouanewandexcitingdimensionoflife.Bymakingthegreatestpriorityyourtoppriorityyouwilllikelyfindotherthingsliningupforyou.

PRACTICE ONE: THE DAILY GOD HUNTIn God we live and move and have our being.

Acts17:28

WhileGodisalwaysandeverywherepresenttous,wemightnotalwaysbepresenttoHim.ThisfirstspiritualpracticecanhelpusawakentotheGodwhoisalwayswithus,theamazingGodinWhomweliveandmoveandhaveourbeing. Thispracticeisonewayinwhichmanypeople,likeDavid,seektoliveeachday inGod’spresencebeholdingHisbeauty. Thereare various formsof thisancientpracticeofbeholdingGod,but I like the formcalled “TheDailyGodHunt”.IdiscoveredthisspiritualpracticeinDavidandKarenMains’book,Daring to Dream Again. Somepeoplehunt forgold, somehunt forburied treasure;withTheDailyGodHuntwegohuntingforGod. WestartTheDailyGodHuntfirstthinginthemorningwithasimpleprayertellingGodthatwearegoingtobewatchingforHimthroughouttheday.ThenwitheyesopenedwidetoHispresence,we look forHimasHemight revealHimselfinanyoneormoreofthefollowingways:

•Anobviousanswertoprayer •GodshowingHimselfinHiscreation(gorgeoussunrise,colorful flowers,exquisitedesignofaleaf,etc.) •Godbeingpresenttoyouinanotherperson •GodhelpingyoutodoHisworkintheworld •AnevidenceofGod’sloveandcareforyou •AddyourGodmomentshere…

Atday’send,takeafewmomentstoreflectbackoveryourdaytonoteany“GodSightings”youmayhavehad.ThenthankGodforthoseGodSightingsandHispresencewithyouthroughoutyourday.YoucandoublethedelightofyourGodSightingsbysharingthemwithanotherperson.YourGodSightingscanbeanencouragementtothemaswell,andopentheireyestoGod’sdailypresencewiththem.PeoplefindthatthemoretheylookforGodintheday,themore

awaretheybecomeofHisconstantpresencewiththem. LikeDavidyoucanexperiencetheencouragementandcomfortofGod’spresencewithyou:

“Where can I go from your spirit?Or where can I flee from your presence?If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast.”Psalm139:7-10

PRACTICE TWO: PALMS DOWN, PALMS UPCast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you.

Psalm55:22,David

NotunlikeDavid,wealsoface“giants”inourlives,takingonproblemsbiggerthanus.ItwasinRichardFoster’sbook,Celebration of Discipline,thatIlearnedhowtobetterplacemyproblems inGod’shandsandexperienceHispresencewithme.Fostercallsthisspiritualpractice,“PalmsDown,PalmsUp”.Thepracticegoeslikethis:

1. “BeginbyplacingyourpalmsdownasasymbolicindicationofyourdesiretoturnoveranyconcernsyoumayhavetoGod.Inwardlyyoumaypray,‘Lord,IgivetoyoumyangertowardJohn.Ireleasemyfearofmydentistappointmentthismorning.Isurrendermyanxietyovernothavingenoughmoneytopaythebillsthismonth.Ireleasemyfrustrationovertryingtofindababy-sitterfortonight.’Whateveritisthatweighsonyourmindorisaconcerntoyou…releaseit.Youmayevenfeelacertainsenseofreleaseinyourhands.”

2. “Afterseveralmomentsofsurrender,turnyourpalmsupasasymbolof yourdesiretoreceivefromtheLord.Perhapsyouwillpraysilently,‘Lord,

IwouldliketoreceiveyourdivineloveforJohn,yourpeaceaboutmy dentistappointment,yourpatience,yourjoy.’”

3. “Havingcentereddown,spendtheremainingmomentsincomplete silence.Donotaskforanything.AllowtheLordtocommunewithyou,to loveyou.”

Try praying “Palms Down, Palms Up” for a few days and watch for thedifferenceitcanmakeinyourlife!

I cast all my cares upon You, I lay all of my burdens down at Your feet.

And any time I don’t know what to do, I will cast all my cares upon You.–KellyWillard

PRACTICE THREE: PRAYING SCRIPTUREMy soul is satisfied as with a rich feast,

and my mouth praises you with joyful lips when I think of you on my bed,

and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help,

and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy. My soul clings to you;

your right hand upholds me. Psalm63:5-8,David

There is a powerfulway ofmeditating on and praying Scripture that goesbacktoDavid’stimeandbeyond.TheancientChurchcalledthiswayofprayingScripture, Lectio Divina,or“SacredReading”. I call it “PrayingScripture”. It’saspiritualpracticethatjoinsthepowerofGod’sWordwiththepowerofprayer. PrayingScriptureisafour-stepprocess:READ,REFLECT,RESPOND,REST. 1.READ:ReadashortScripturetextslowlyandprayerfully,twoorthree times.Asyouread,listenfortheHolySpirit’svoicespeakingtoyou throughthewordsyouread.Paycloseattentiontoawordorphrasethat standsouttoyou. 2. REFLECT:Reflectonwhatyouhavejustread,focusingonthewordor phrasethatcapturedyourattention.Meditateonthatwordorphrase, picturingtheimages,lettingthemsinkintoyou.TaketimetoletGod’s Wordtospeaktoyourlife. 3.RESPOND:RespondtoGod’sWordtoyou.TalkwithHimaboutthe thoughts,feelings,andquestionsstirringinyouasyoureadandreflecton HisWord.MakethisintoarealdialoguewithGod’sSpiritwithinasyou bothtalkwithHimandlistenforHim. 4.REST:RestfinallyinGod’spresenceforafewmoments.Letyourself experiencethe“rest”thatJesuspromisesallwhocometoHim.This dimensionofrestisoftenoverlookedintimeswespendwithGod.This

hasbeencalled“laptime”withGod,aswejustletourselvesbewithGod. Noneedhereforanywords,anyeffort,anytryingtoplease.Only“Be still, and know that I am God”(Psalm46:10).CompleteprayingScriptureby prayingTheLord’sPrayer,TheOurFather,oryourownprayerofpraiseto God.

Fortoday,prayScripturebytakingPsalm23andusingthefourstepsofREAD,REFLECT,RESPOND,andREST.Fortomorrow,youcouldstaywithPsalm23,orgoontoanotherpsalmorbriefgospelpassage.

PRACTICE FOUR: PRAYER WALKINGI urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers,

intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people. 1Timothy2:1

JesusandHisapostlesdidalotofwalkingandtheydidalotofpraying.AndifJesussaidthatwe“oughtalwaystopray”(Luke18:1),thentheymusthavedonealotofprayingastheywalked.Manypeoplefindthattheydosomeoftheirbestprayingastheywalk.IknowthatIdo,asIsometimesgetsleepywhenIprayorIlosefocus.PrayerWalkinghelpsmewiththat. DonaldWhitney,inhisbookSimplify Your Life,saysthisaboutPrayerWalking:

“Thewalking and theweather invigoratemy sluggish soul. Looking upintotheblueorouttothehorizonrefreshesmysenseofthegreatnessof God. The sights, smells, and sounds of my Father’s world surroundmewithremindersofHispresence.Thecadenceofmypaceorstoppingoccasionallytostareintothedistance,oftenenablesmetoconcentrateinprayermoreeasilythanwhenI’mstillandmyeyesareclosed.”

Iliketowalk,andIliketopray.HerearesomethingsI’velearnedaboutPrayerWalkingthatIhopewillbehelpfultoyou:

• Beginyourwalkbyasking theHolySpirit toopenyoureyes towhatHewantsyoutoseeandtohearasyouwalk.

• Greetanyoneyoumeetalongtheway,breathingablessingforthem.

• Pray for neighbors as you pass their homes; the oneswhere you knowthereissickness,unemployment,loneliness,discord,etc.

• Keepallyoursensesalerttoanysight,sound,orscentyouencounterintheFather’sworld.TalkwithGodaboutwhatyouareexperiencing.

• Makeroomforsilenceasyouwalk,allowingspacefortheHolySpirittospeaktoyouandtothinkHisthoughtsthroughyou.

• Prayforanyschoolorchurchyoumightpass.

• Asyouwalkrememberthebasicsofprayer,ACTS:Adoration,Confession,Thanksgiving,Supplication.

Ifyoualreadywalkforexerciseorrecreation,whynotturnyourwalkingintoPrayerWalkingthisweek?Ifyouarenotwalking,howaboutgoingforawalkforthesolepurposeofpraying?Andsometimes,takeanotherwithyouandwalkandpraytogether.

PRACTICE FIVE: UNPLUGGINGBe still, and know that I am God.

Psalm46:10

“Theworldistoomuchwithus;lateandsoon,”lamentedthepoetWilliamWordsworthalmosttwocenturiesago.WhatmightWordsworthsayabouthowthe world crowds in on us today!While Americans continue spending 26-28hoursaweekinfrontofthetelevision,ourtimeontheInternethasincreased121%overthelastfiveyears.HowmanytimesIcatchmyselfgoingonlinejusttocheckmyemailandanhourlaterIhaveforgottenwhyIwentonlineinthefirstplace.Manyofusareleftfeelingtheneedfortimejusttothink,totalk,tofeel,tolisten,topray,andtobe. Fromtheearliesttimes thepeopleofGodhavepracticed fastingasawayofspiritualcleansing,renewal,andtosymbolizetheirneedforrepentanceandchangeofdirection.Todaymanypeoplearealsofeelingtheneedto‘fast’fromthemediaforawhileandpulloffthegreatinformationhighway.Inordertobettercenter their lives, theymaketime topull theplugon the Internet, television,email,textmessaging,anditchtoalwaysfeelpluggedin. Our Lord Jesus forever remains the model for unplugging and for takingtimeawayfromtheveryworldHecametosave.ConsiderJesus’exampleinthefollowingscenefromtheGospels:

“In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.

And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him,

‘Everyone is searching for you.’” Mark1:35-37

EvenwitheveryonesearchingforJesusandtryingtoconnectwithHim,JesusrecognizedHisneedtounplug.ConsiderthefollowingwaysinwhichyoumightwanttooccasionallyunplugsothatyoumightbefullypresenttoGodandfullypresenttoothers:

•Setasideonedayaweek,oratleastafewhours,tobeasmediafree aspossible(i.e.unpluggingfromtheInternet,television,Facebook, Twitter,etc.). •Createaphysicalspacewhereyouputasidehigh-techdevicesasawayof sayingtooneanother,“Iampresent.”Haveatrayinwhichphone, computer,iPadandotherdevicesareplacedwhenwalkinginthedoorof yourhouse.Thosedevicesremainthereforthenightunlessthereissome “goodreason”toaccessthem. •Listentosilenceortomusicasyoudriveinthecarratherthanthenews ortalkradio. •ListenforGodinsteadofturningonPandora,theradioorTVwhenyouget upinthemorning. • Goforawalk;readapoem;talktoyourspouse.Evenwhen“Everyone is searching for you”,justletyourselfbe!Godwillkeeptheworldspinning whileyouunplug. Trysomeofthesesuggestionsandthenreflectonhowtheyworkforyou.Talkasafamilyaboutyouruseofthemedia,andthemedia’suseofyou.AsktheHolySpirittohelpandguideyouasyoufollowourLord’sexampleofunpluggingforawhilefromaworldthatis“toomuchwithus”.

PRACTICE SIX: IMAGINATIVE PRAYERO God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you;

my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon

you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Psalm63:1-2

It is striking that itwas in a dry andwearywilderness that David says he“looked”uponGodinHissanctuarybeholdingHispowerandglory.Ifyou,likeDavid,also thirst forGod,youcan learn toseeHimeven in“a dry and weary land”.WeneedonlytodirectoureyesoffaithtowardHim. Just asDavidhadmade it his priority to “behold the beauty of the LORD” (Psalm 27:4), so in Imaginative Prayer we make it a priority to behold theinvisibleGod.Asweoftenimaginethefaceofsomeonewelove,soweuseourimaginationtoentertheworldofGod’sWord.WereadGod’sWordinsuchawaythatweknow“ChristtheWordinthewords.”(KarlBarth)WedothisbecausewethirstnotjusttothinkaboutGodbuttoexperienceHim.WeentertheBiblewiththeeyesofourmindwideopenandallofoursensesfiring.Usingbothourrightandleftbrainwesee,feel,hearandtastewhatwearereading.GodlongstomeetusaswelongtomeetwithHiminHisWord. ImaginativePrayerworksbestwithaGospelstory,asitisintheGospelsthatwemeetGodrevealedtousinthefaceofJesus.HerearethestepstoImaginativePrayer:

• PickaGospelstorytoread.

• AsktheHolySpirittorevealtheLivingWord,ChristJesus,inthewordsyou read.

• ReadtheGospelstoryslowly,prayerfully,twoorthreetimes.

• Havingreadthestory,nowwithyourmind’seyeenterintoit.Usingyour fivesenses,smellthescentsofaPassovermeal;seeJesusashewashes thedisciples’feet;hearthesoundsfromthestreetbelow;feelthesweat

drippingfromyourface;listentowhatJesusissayingtothedisciplesand whattheyaresayingtoHim.Lingeroverthesceneandletyourself becomepartofthestory.LetyourselfseeJesuscomingtoyou.Whatdo youwanttosaytoJesus?WhatdoyouhearHimsayingtoyou?

• Don’trushthroughthistimeofImaginativePrayer.Payattentiontowhat youarethinkingandfeelingasyouengagethetext.Whatisitstirringin you?

• Whenyouarefinished,prayTheLord’sPrayerorTheOurFather.

Here are some Gospel passages for you to possibly use in practicingImaginative Prayer: John 13:1-11; Mark 10:46-52; Luke 15:11-51; Luke23:39-43;Luke1:26-38.

PRACTICE SEVEN: ABBA PRAYERAnd because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of

his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Galatians4:6

Developmentalpsychologists say that children learn to speakbetween theagesof14and18months.Alittlechild’sfirstsoundsareprimarysoundssuchas“Mama,mama”or“Dada,dada”.AlittleJewishchildinJesus’day,inhisorherAramaic-speakinghome,wouldutterfirstsoundssuchas“Ababababba”.“Abba”becamealittlechild’sfirstnamefor“Father”,muchlike“Daddy”inourcolloquialspeech.Abbadenotesintimacyandtheclosestfamiliarity.AsJesushasbroughtusclosetotheFather’sheart,soHisHolySpiritissenttolivewithinus,promptingustocryouttoFather,“Abba!Daddy!” IhavefoundthatitisonethingtoknowinmyheadthatIamachildofGodthroughfaithinJesus,butquiteanotherthingformetoreallyexperienceandliveit.BrennanManning,inhisbookAbba’s Child,introducedmetoaspiritualpracticethathasbeensomeaningfulinmylife,andIthinkitcanbeforyouaswell.Itisawayofprayingthathelpstakewhatweknowinourheadsandmakesitrealinourhearts.ManningsuggestsprayingtheAbbaPrayerinthefollowingway: • Sit,kneel,orlieonyourbedforafewmomentsandletyourselfrelaxin theFather’swelcomingpresence.Afewdeepbreathscanbehelpfulhere forrelaxing. • Onceyouhaverelaxed,breatheinslowlywhilesaying“Abba”;breathe outslowlywhilesaying“IbelongtoYou”. • Slowly,prayerfully,repeatthesewordsforseveralmoments:“Abba” (breathingin);“IbelongtoYou”(breathingout). • EndthistimeofprayerfulmeditationbyprayingTheLord’sPrayerorThe OurFather. • TaketheAbbaPrayerwithyouintoyourday,andliveclosetotheFather’s heart.“Abba,Ibelongtoyou.Abba,Ibelongtoyou…”Youcanprayitas youstandinlineatthebank,driveonthefreeway,orlieinbedatnight.

“For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption.

When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”

Romans8:15-16

Closing Thoughts

WehavetitledthisbookSevenSpiritualPracticesforBusyPeople,knowingthatyouareprobablyabusyperson!You’vegotpeopletotalkto,thingstodo,andplacestogo.But,aswehaveseen,life’sgreatestpriorityisGodandlivinginHispresenceallofourdays. Asyoumaketimeinyourbusyscheduleforthesespiritualpracticesyouwillmakeawonderfuldiscovery:JesusmultipliesthetimewespendwithHim.WemightthinklackoftimeisthecauseoflackoftimewithGod,butitworksjusttheopposite.LackoftimewithGodcanbethecauseofourlackoftime! Thinkofthesesevenpracticeslikethe“topbutton”thatwillhelpeverythingelseinyourlifelineupright.Godrefreshandblessyou!

Rev.Dr.TimothyL.SmithservesasExecutiveDirectorofWater from Rock Ministries, Inc. (WfR),aministryofspiritualformationassistingpeopleintheirjourneytogreaterintimacywithGod.WfRiscommittedtoexploringwhatitmeanstolistenforGodandexperienceHispresenceintheopportunitiesandchallengesofdailyliving. Throughourweeklyclasses(Christ’s Teaching for Today’s World),devotionalpublications,WfRwebsite,weeklyeVotionals,eventsandservices,WfRseekstoprovide‘water’forthewildernessjourney.Ifwemightbeofanyhelptoyou,pleasefeelfreetocontactus.

FormoreinformationonWaterfromRock,visitourwebsiteatwww.waterfromrock.org.

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